demerol
meperidine hydrochloride · by hospira
54/100Limited · 1 source
Based on 1 source · Manufacturer recall-safety score (FDA recall history) — not an efficacy or quality rating. methodology →
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$0.16 /mL
Overview
Meperidine hydrochloride is an opioid agonist, available as 50 mg and 100 mg tablets or 50 mg per 5 mL solution for oral administration. The chemical name is 4-Piperidinecarboxylic acid, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-,ethyl ester, hydrochloride. The molecular weight is 283.79. Its molecular formula is C 15 H 21 NO 2 • HCl, and it has the following chemical structure. Meperidine hydrochloride, USP is a fine, white, crystalline powder with a melting point of 186°C to 189°C. It is very soluble in water and has a neutral reaction. The solution is not decomposed by a short period of boiling. Each Meperidine Hydrochloride Tablet, USP for oral administration contains either 50 mg or 100 mg meperidine hydrochloride, USP and the following inactive ingredients: corn starch, croscarmellose sodium, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, and pregelatinized starch. Each 5 mL of Meperidine Hydrochloride Oral Solution, USP for oral administration contains 50 mg meperidine hydrochloride, USP and the following inactive ingredients: glycerin, hydrochloric acid, maltol, sodium benzoate, sorbitol solution and purified water. chem-meperidine.jpg
How to use
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION • Meperidine Hydrochloride Tablets and Oral Solution should be prescribed only by healthcare professionals who are knowledgeable about the use of opioids and how to mitigate the associated risks. ( 2.1 ) • Use the lowest effective dosage for the shortest duration of time consistent with individual patient treatment goals. Reserve titration to higher doses of Meperidine Hydrochloride Tablets and Oral Solution for patients in whom lower doses are insufficiently effective and in whom the expected benefits of using a higher dose opioid clearly outweigh the substantial risks. ( 2.1 , 5 ) • Many acute pain conditions (e.g., the pain that occurs with a number of surgical procedures or acute musculoskeletal injuries) require no more than a few days of an opioid analgesic. Clinical guidelines on opioid prescribing for some acute pain conditions are available. ( 2.1 ) • Initiate the dosing regimen for each patient individually, taking into account the patient’s underlying cause and severity of pain, prior analgesic treatment and response, and risk factors for addiction, abuse, and misuse. ( 2.1 , 5.2 ) • Respiratory depression can occur at any time during opioid therapy, especially when initiating and following dosage increases with Meperidine Hydrochloride Tablets and Oral Solution. Consider this risk when selecting an initial dose and when making dose…
Side effects
The following serious adverse reactions are described, or described in greater detail, in other sections: • Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] • Life-Threatening Respiratory Depression [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] • Interactions with Benzodiazepines or Other CNS Depressants [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] • Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] • Opioid-Induced Hyperalgesia and Allodynia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.9 )] • Serotonin Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.10 )] • Adrenal Insufficiency [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.12 )] • Severe Hypotension [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.13 )] • Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.15 )] • Seizures [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.16 )] • Withdrawal [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.17 )] The following adverse reactions associated with the use of meperidine were identified in clinical studies or postmarketing reports. Because some of these reactions were reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. The major hazards of meperidine, as with other opioid analgesics, are respiratory depression and, to a lesser degree, circulatory depression, respiratory arrest, shock, and…
Warnings
Important safety information
WARNING: SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING RISKS FROM USE OF MEPERIDINE HYDROCHLORIDE TABLETS AND ORAL SOLUTION Risk of Medication Errors Ensure accuracy when prescribing, dispensing, and administering Meperidine Hydrochloride Oral Solution. Dosing errors due to confusion between mg and mL, and other Meperidine Hydrochloride Oral Solutions of different concentrations can result in accidental overdose and death [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.1 ), Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] . Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse Because the use of Meperidine Hydrochloride Tablets and Oral Solution exposes patients and other users to the risks of opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death, assess each patient’s risk prior to prescribing and reassess all patients regularly for the development of these behaviors and conditions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] . Life-Threatening Respiratory Depression Serious, life-threatening, or fatal respiratory depression may occur with use of Meperidine Hydrochloride Tablets and Oral Solution, especially during initiation or following a dosage increase. To reduce the risk of respiratory depression, proper dosing and titration of Meperidine Hydrochloride Tablets or Oral Solution are essential [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )]. Accidental Ingestion Accidental ingestion of Meperidine Hydrochloride Tablets and Oral Solution,…
Interactions
Table 1 includes clinically significant drug interactions with Meperidine Hydrochloride Tablets and Oral Solution. Table 1: Clinically Significant Drug Interactions with Meperidine Hydrochloride Tablets and Oral Solution Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) Clinical Impact: Meperidine is contraindicated in patients who are receiving monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or those who have recently received such agents. Therapeutic doses of meperidine have occasionally precipitated unpredictable, severe, and occasionally fatal reactions in patients who have received such agents within 14 days. The mechanism of these reactions is unclear, but may be related to a preexisting hyperphenylalaninemia. Some have been characterized by coma, severe respiratory depression, cyanosis, and hypotension, and have resembled the syndrome of acute opioid overdose. Serotonin syndrome with agitation, hyperthermia, diarrhea, tachycardia, sweating, tremors and impaired consciousness may also occur. In other reactions the predominant manifestations have been hyperexcitability, convulsions, tachycardia, hyperpyrexia, and hypertension. Intervention: Do not use Meperidine Hydrochloride Tablets or Oral Solution in patients taking MAOIs or within 14 days of stopping such treatment. Intravenous hydrocortisone or prednisolone have been used to treat severe reactions, with the addition of intravenous…
May treat
Dosage forms
INJECTABLE
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Frequently asked questions
- What is Demerol?
- Meperidine hydrochloride is an opioid agonist, available as 50 mg and 100 mg tablets or 50 mg per 5 mL solution for oral administration. The chemical name is 4-Piperidinecarboxylic acid, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-,ethyl ester, hydrochloride. The molecular weight is 283.79. Its molecular formula is C 15 H 21 NO 2 • HCl, and it has the following chemical structure. Meperidine hydrochloride, USP is a fine, white, crystalline powder with a melting point of 186°C to 189°C. It is very soluble in water and has a neutral reaction. The solution is not decomposed by a short period of boiling. Each Meperidine Hydrochloride Tablet, USP for oral administration contains either 50 mg or 100 mg meperidine hydrochloride, USP and the following inactive ingredients: corn starch, croscarmellose sodium, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, and pregelatinized starch. Each 5 mL of Meperidine Hydrochloride Oral Solution, USP for oral administration contains 50 mg meperidine hydrochloride, USP and the following inactive ingredients: glycerin, hydrochloric acid, maltol, sodium benzoate, sorbitol solution and purified water. chem-meperidine.jpg
- What does Demerol treat?
- Demerol (Meperidine Hydrochloride) is indicated for pain, per its drug-label indications. This is general reference, not medical advice.
- How is Demerol rated?
- pharmaranks gives Demerol a composite score of 2.7 out of 5, combining 1 weighted source (regulatory data weighted highest) and 149 user reviews. See our methodology at /how-we-rate.
- How much does Demerol cost?
- Demerol has a typical acquisition cost of about $0.16 per ml, based on CMS NADAC data.
Clinical content sourced from the FDA label via openFDA (U.S. FDA). Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.
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demerol
54/100